We have rabbit ears! It's called a "Mohu", it's flat and can hang on the wall (they say you can even paint it) or lay on a surface. (There are other brands, too) It doesn't get cable or streaming channels, but almost all the broadcast channels have secondary programming, which we use keep up with things like France 24, BBC World, African, Asian, Indian, and even First Peoples (Berenstain Bears in Lakota!)

We also have Netflix and Acorn, and a library system for (free!) movies and series that aren't in the current Netflix/Acorn rotation.

Is your wifi supplied by your cable company? Our wifi, telephone and cable tv are bundled together. Every 2 years we price the options in our area for our services. The difference in price is never enough to convince us to change. Even when a deal looks good, it's usually only a less cost for a limited time.

I know this doesn't answer your question, but it's hard without knowing what you like to watch. Sports? Cable news?

We have Dish Network but only their basic programming, Netflix which my DH loves, a Roku on each tv which is worth considering and Amazon (offered free with Prime).

Our Dish package is only 27.00/mo and in addition to local channels offers channels like Oxygen, We and HGTV. I don't believe it's offered any more but I feel their service is worth considering and having DVR is key. They don't raise rates often, the dish works well 99.9% of the time and Customer Service has been responsive the few times I've called.

What I would warn you about is Directv. We were loyal customers for many years, but their business practices became very shady which a google search for reviews will confirm, we won't do business with them again. We had several issues but the last straw was after being over charged for 2+ years (even after I inquired about the error and was told it was correct) we were offered an upgrade in boxes as a courtesy to help compensate us. We hated the new boxes but when we tried to return them we found out that "that courtesy" had locked us into a new 2 yr contract without our consent. It took me weeks to get it resolved after which we immediately dropped the service and will never go back.

We have a Mohu, but we have trees so it doesn't work, I'd be happy to send to anyone one who wants it. LOL.

I haven't had tv for 8 years but stream some things I like. This year I finally broke down and now pay for hulu so i can stream some mainstream shows like Modern Family without commercials. Between that and netflix pbs and a couple of amazon purchases, i can see more than enough for me.

Lukkiirish, we have trees too, is that why we can lose a signal if it's really, really windy out or it can go in and out? We just move the panel around and it's back. And with the digital broadcast signal, it's either perfect or it just isn't there. At least with the old analog signal you might get snow, but it could be almost unnoticeable and at least you could still watch and hear.

Oddly, there is one channel we almost never pick up, and it's a national affiliate. With analog for a while it was the worst signal, then they got a new antenna and it was the best; they were the last to switch to digital broadcast and it just doesn't reach us at all. It's too bad, because CBS Sunday morning and 60 Minutes were my two favorite shows.

Antenna here, too. I did not want to split signals too much, so have two roof-top antennas, one for my bedroom TV which is the outdoor Mohu Sky, and the other old fashioned looking one on the garage which splits for the living room and office TVs. I also have an indoor Leaf in the attic for my small DR/kitchen TV and a Cable-Cutter in the attic for my studio/guest room. I live in a poor reception area, so don't pull in too many stations, and not all but most have issues in poor or windy weather. It's the price I'm willing to pay for free service; no monthly bill. You can check your areas general reception with online sites.

I got Hulu gift cards on eBay so paid for a year of their commercial free service for like $24. The eBay auctions are a great deal if you look for the legit ones (those that give gift card numbers, not a password)

We have Hulu, Netflix, and Prime so that provides plenty to watch.

What would you consider a very good antenna? I may get one. So fed up with cable. Even Comcast basic service is 150.00. My bill was 278.00 a month, now it's 157.00 but I only watch Pbs and then Apple tv with Netflix, Amazon and HBOnow.

I just noticed or maybe paid attention to what I can access through Apple TV, Crave or Shomi. Anyone subscribe to these. What I am looking for is current TV shows like Survivor, Amazing Race, Grey's Anatomy etc, just with no commercials, Since we have been watching Netflix, those commercials on cable really bug me.

Yaya, antenna type depends on needs. Unless you have fabulous signal strength, I recommend roof top antennas, although I upgraded to the amplified indoor Mohu Leafs at my last house - that location had better reception. Since I no longer wanted to see any cables/wires, even the thin cords running from the flat paper-sized indoor Leaf antenna's stuck up on the walls, in this house l had the recessed boxes installed behind every tv here, and all are wall mounted, to avoid all wires, and had electric pulled to each box to avoid seeing electric cords, too. Check out Cable Cutter, a simple flat plastic affair I have in my attic. Performs really well in cities and other areas with a lot of signal. I really like my Mohu Sky, it seems to do a really good job, and my other roof top is a Wineguard 7694, but I plan to replace it with a larger version. I actually don't remember and would have to check, but believe mine are all amplified. I've had indoor antenna's for years but the others were all purchased last year. There may be even better antenna's available now.

Mohu leaf, Roku, Netflix and Amazon Prime - cut the cord on cable years ago. Now watch much better programming for about $17 per month vs $100.

RoseAbbey

Survivor, Amazing Race, and Grey's Anatomy are all on Hulu, I just checked. I don't watch those shows so not sure if it is the current season or not...

I really love Hulu for current TV shows. We watch How to Get Away with Murder on there (which isn't a great show, but DH and I watch it together) and I watch Law and Order SVU on there which are two of the very few cable TV shows I watch.

We had an Apple TV which stopped working after 2 years- but from what I remember, it allows you to access aps (including Hulu) that you can watch stuff on, and you can also subscribe to particular shows from the iTunes store (i.e. you can buy per episode or per season)- but AFAIK you cannot subscribe to Apple TV specifically.

Nothing much to add except I have had direct tv for 16 years and have been completely happy with it, outside of paying for it!

Well I was assuming it was the trees, but maybe it just doesn't work well? I got frustrated and wasn't willing to fuss with it. I picked up a Roku instead and have been tickled pink with that, it's all we have upstairs. It has everything from games to a ton of program and other fun channels some free, some like hulu, netflix and acorn require a subscription. There's a free CBS channel, not sure what's on it though, their news portion plays a ton of commercials so I don't go on it much, but it may have the programming you want. I can't say enough good things about Roku though, it's so worth the cost. I've since put a 2nd one in the living room.

OTA TV accompanied by Netflix, Hulu and complimentary Amazon Prime. The antenna we use is Cable Cutter which brings in all major networks plus 20 other channels.

You can check your channel location, availability, and antenna strength recommendation here.

Antennaweb

Roku is also a good option. If you choose Roku, I recommend the version 3 and up. It's WiFi instead of IR, and includes ear buds to listen in private or at night. I like listening to Pandora while cleaning or gardening. Range is 300'

I am going to look into all information. thank you.

I can't add much either. We're in the country so are very limited as far as internet service providers go. We went with Direct TV a long time ago, probably 15 years now, and have been very satisfied, although they are not proactive in upgrading their equipment on their own, so as someone pointed out, you get roped into another 2-year contract just having to upgrade your boxes, which I think stinks. Hearing other people in the city complain about various cable providers makes me very happy we have Direct TV, even though I think we could reduce our costs with a bundling package if we could do so.

We currently have a Verizon broadband package for secure internet (a MiFi cellular based system). It is bundled with our cell phones and isn't all that expensive ($60/month with a 15% discount) but that is only for 30GB of data, which we have exceeded a few times a year. If we tried to go higher in data, it would be ridiculously more expensive. And although AT&T now owns Direct TV, and seems to be offering 'free data', you need to read the fine print on how the data might 'slow down' after 22 GB of data is used. Whatever that means. How do you slow down a cellular signal? AT&T isn't all that strong in our area anyway and I don't find it's very good nationwide.

So do any of you have thoughts about the best company for a sports fan? I don't care too much about TV but husband has to have sports, and in particular Fox Midwest, so he can get Cardinal's Baseball.

jlj48, you really have to check and see what is offered in your region in the basic package, but we've noticed Direct TV (or probably any of the major satellite providers such as DISH) offer 'sports packages'. We have regional coverage (e.g., the SEC Network) that is included in our basic package as well as whatever regional coverage is being broadcast on Fox, CBS, etc.